Gov2.0 is a buzzword
Today I was inspired by This post about the aims of Gov2.0 rather than a definition (the subject of this linked article at GovLoop) as it is written in a language that is opaque to citizens. It appears to me that citizens most likely care about:
- Availability and value of services they actually receive (and the associated cost)
- Information that helps them live their lives
- Representation and involvement in the formation of policy/decisions
In some order or other. And for each the set of questions and answers is different. I initially found myself putting forward an argument for distinguishing between e-Gov, Open Gov and Gov 2.0 (corresponding to the bullets above respectively) before a rethink where I want to argue for actually making this stuff important to citizens. This in turn will make it important to decision makers in government, elected representatives and other government employees.
“Good government engages in processes that are as open and democratic as possible form and execute policy; it is as transparent as possible in making public data public; andas effective as possible in executing it’s duties to deliver the services citizens require in the most efficient way.”
The outcome is more important than the process, and certainly more important than the buzzwords.
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Great post Brett – totally agree! Gov 2.0 is a useful term for us folks who involved with the “sausage-making” but that’s a very small % of people. Just as the general public doesn’t care that your organization is applying Lean Six Sigma to its internal processes in an effort to keep prices down, they just care that prices are kept low. Same thing here – the public doesn’t care that the government is on Twitter or Facebook or on the blogs, they just want to know that they can reach out and engage. If they use Twitter, that’s great. But, it should be just as great if they use the telephone and get the same level of customer service as they would from us social media geeks on Twitter too.